I thought i would ask, since i dont know, and all of this is new to me. On my vaccum advance distributor, where does the vaccum canister hook up to?

 

Quick answer: Vacuum

 

Longer answer: Either the ported advance plug on your distributor, or the manifold vacuum. Pick the one that makes the motor run the best. Chances are it'll be ported.

 

ok, maybe i should make myself clearer, so you guys could do the same. No offense, but this is all new to me. My new distributor has a vaccum advance, and theres going to be a hose coming off of it. Where should i hook that up to? Is the hook up on the carb or on the intake manifold? thanks

 

Intake Manifold would be "manifold vacuum".
Carb will have a "manifold vacuum" port (probably a few), which will be physically, below the throttle blades. When you hook up a vacuum gauge to a "manifold vacuum" port, it'll show you a vacuum reading, say 16", while you're idling.

A "ported vacuum" port, will only be on the carb. Again, probably a few of them. If you check it with your vacuum gauge while idling, it'll show 0, or up to 2" vacuum say.
Checking it with a gauge is your only real sure fire way of knowing which is which.

Manifold vacuum advance on your distributor will give you your vacuum advance, say 18*, at idle, and above, up to WOT basically. Whereas using ported, will give it to you only in cruise mode, or light acceleration sorta thing.
If you have a bigger cam, and need a schwack of timing to get it to idle, manifold vacuum might help you. I'm not a fan of it myself.
Remember, they are bang on the same, EXCEPT AT IDLE. (basically).

Best bet would be to try one, drive around for a few days. Then try the other. The "norm" is ported vacuum, to make a long story short.

Just gotta check, your new dist has a vacuum advance, your last didn't? Most importantly of all, what carb is on the motor?

 

Well, Ive been trying to get my old cc quadrajet/cc distributor to work for about 6 months now, and i have come up way short. Cant get the thing to idle on startup for anything. Anyway, i recently came across a good deal on a performer rpm intake, and a performer carb, then grabbed a vaccum advance dist off ebay. This weekend ill be switching it all out and saying goodbye to CC-headaches, and ill prolly see a whole new kinda of headaches, but at least itll be simpler.